How a Humble Metal Protected an Empire at Sea

When we think of naval supremacy, we often picture mighty warships, heroic battles, and powerful admirals. But beneath those decks – quite literally – was a quiet hero that rarely gets the credit it deserves: copper.

At Ingots We Trust, we believe in giving copper its rightful place on the throne of history. And nowhere is its contribution more powerful and nation-defining than in the Royal Navy – the maritime backbone of the British Empire.

The Problem: Ship Rot, Barnacles & Naval Vulnerability

In the 17th and 18th centuries, wooden ships ruled the seas – but they had a deadly weakness:

• Barnacle infestation, shipworm, and rot plagued hulls, slowing speed and maneuverability.
• Ships required constant dry-dock maintenance, reducing readiness.
• Long-distance sea travel was risky, slow, and tactically inefficient.
• Enemy fleets like France and Spain faced the same struggles – creating a fragile stalemate.

Without a solution, Britain risked losing its strategic advantage – and perhaps its naval dominance.

The Solution: Copper Sheathing – Britain’s Secret Weapon

In 1761, HMS Alarm became the first Royal Navy vessel fully sheathed in copper plating. The results were transformative:

• Copper hulls resisted barnacles, sea worm, and rot.
• Ships stayed at sea longer, sailed faster, and required fewer repairs.
• Sailors’ lives were safer, voyages shorter, and victories more frequent.

By 1780, more than 400 Royal Navy ships were copper-sheathed. The fleet was transformed – and so was Britain’s global influence.

The Impact on British Naval Power

Copper sheathing changed the course of naval history:

• Victory at Sea: Copper-sheathed ships like HMS Victory helped secure triumphs such as Trafalgar (1805).
• Empire Expansion: The Royal Navy could sustain colonies and dominate foreign seas, from India to the Caribbean.
• Logistics & Longevity: Ships lasted longer, performed better, and Britain’s dockyards industrialised maintenance with predictable copper engineering.

A Global Ripple Effect: Copper Trade & Industry

Copper’s role extended beyond warships –  it fuelled an industrial revolution:

• Parys Mountain in Amlwch, Wales, became the largest copper mine in the world, employing thousands.
• Swansea’s ports thrived on smelting ore from Anglesey.
• Sheffield’s foundries advanced copper refining for industry.
• Global trade routes stretched to Chile, Cuba, India, and Africa in pursuit of copper ingots and ore.

A metal once used for coinage became the backbone of military and industrial might.

The Human Legacy: Miners, Makers & Copper Ladies

Copper’s naval role was built on human effort:

• Welsh and Cornish miners braved the tunnels of Parys Mountain.
• The “Copper Ladies” of Amlwch painstakingly separated ore by hand.
• Foundry workers, smelters, and engineers created the naval infrastructure.

These individuals weren’t just working with metal – they were forging an empire.

What If Copper Had Never Been Used?

A world without copper sheathing might have looked very different:

• More ships lost, sailors dead, and battles lost
• Slower global trade, weakening Britain’s economic power
• Possible naval defeat by France or Spain
• A diminished empire and a re-written history of world leadership

Copper didn’t just help Britain survive – it helped Britain dominate.

Ingots We Trust & Amlwch Port Today: Reviving the Legacy

At Ingots We Trust, we proudly operate from a design HQ in Amlwch Port – the very heart of Britain’s 🇬🇧 copper story. We honour this legacy not only in words, but in action:

• Supporting local communities and heritage projects
• Designing and handcrafting 24K Cu Copper ArtBars like The Precious™ (1kg) and The Behemoth™ (5kg)
• Using the KPS™ Karat Purity Scale to certify purity and restore copper’s status as a true precious metal

Our work ensures copper’s story lives on – both as history and as a modern investment opportunity.

Copper: More Than a Metal – A Maritime Legacy

Without copper, there may never have been a British Empire.
There may never have been a Royal Navy as we know it.
And Britain’s place in the industrial world might have been diminished forever.

Copper kept the Navy afloat, kept Britain sovereign, and kept sailors safe.

At Ingots We Trust, we are not just telling this story – we are preserving it in every copper ingot and ArtBar we craft.